About Stefan
Stefan leads McKinsey’s work in clean technology, working across sectors including solar, advanced materials, energy storage and batteries, electric vehicles, utilities, building systems, and energy efficiency. His clients include industrial and energy companies, venture capital and private equity investors, and foundations focused on sustainability and climate change.
Stefan focuses on strategy and innovation, including new business building, growth, portfolio management, business model transformation, global scaling, M&A, and product and technology development. Recent examples of his work include helping an Asian conglomerate build a solar business, identifying and scaling the best technologies in a US industrial conglomerate, and negotiating joint ventures between US and Asian technology companies.
Stefan previously led McKinsey’s Semiconductor Practice and has served the leading semiconductor companies around the world, including extensive work in Asia.
Stefan received his PhD in cognitive science from the University of California, San Diego, and a BS with honors in symbolic systems from Stanford University. His research focused on neural network algorithms and the neural basis of reasoning. Prior to joining McKinsey, Stefan helped develop Apple’s web presence; built a prototype satellite image-delivery system for NASA; founded the Stanford Solar Car Project, building two generations of solar-powered cars; developed expert systems for IBM; and developed pattern-recognition neural networks at Xerox PARC.
Published Work
“Solar power: Darkest before the dawn,” McKinsey, April 2012
“Creating value in the semiconductor industry,” McKinsey on Semiconductors, Autumn 2011
“The US low-carbon economics tool,” Climate Change Special Initiative, McKinsey, March 2010
Past Experience
| Apple Computer |
1995-96 |
| Teleos Research |
1994-95 |
| Xerox PARC |
1992-93 |
Education
| University of California, San Diego |
PhD in cognitive science and philosophy |
| Stanford University |
BS in symbolic systems |